Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Sprout Along Mississippi River

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Sprout Along Mississippi River in Minnesota

SAINT PAUL, MINN. – (June 15, 2015) --Parks and recreational areas have always been a good place to ‘recharge’ body, mind and spirit. Now they are also a good place to recharge electric-powered vehicles (EVs), thanks to a partnership including federal, state and local agencies that are installing vehicle charging stations at 11 locations within the Mississippi National River and Recreational Area, a 72-mile long, 54,000-acre national park along the Mississippi River that stretches from Dayton to Hastings.  At 1 p.m. on Monday, June 15th, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at one of these sites, at Fort Snelling State Park, 101 Snelling Lake Road, Saint Paul, Minn. 

The event is being planned by Twin Cities Clean Cities Coalition, a statewide program coordinated by the American Lung Association in Minnesota to reduce air pollution and petroleum consumption.  The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency provided expertise for the project, as well as Fort Snelling State Park and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The new vehicle charging sites are part of a national partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program and the National Park Service.

“Tailpipe emissions are the single largest source of air pollution in Minnesota,” said Lisa Thurstin, coordinator of Twin Cities Clean Cities Coalition.  “Building electric vehicle charging infrastructure will help to grow EV use and encourages people to give this cleaner transportation option a try.”

A short program will be followed by an opportunity to meet with federal and state officials, as well as view an electric vehicle exhibit.  A representative from ChargePoint, the nation’s largest EV charging network and station manufacturer, will also be available for interviews.

"The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (NRRA) is pleased to work with the American Lung Association and local partners to provide a clean source of transportation for Twin Cities visitors to experience their national park," said NRRA Superintendent John Anfinson. The NRRA project is one of 27 national parks awarded funding through the Clean Cities National Park Initiative, which provided this opportunity to add the electric vehicle charging stations to the array of alternative transportation options in park.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources purchased its first all-electric vehicle in 1982, and now operates a fleet of EVs in 21 DNR properties across the state. Fort Snelling State Park has a 3 kW solar array at its Interpretive Center that should more than offset power used to refuel electric vehicles there.

“Over the past five years, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have installed more than 25 renewable energy systems within state parks across Minnesota, with more planned in the coming year,” said Dana Vanderbosch, acquisition and development manager for parks and trails. “Offering electric vehicle charging at Fort Snelling is one more step we’re taking towards supporting clean energy.”

The electric vehicle charging facilities added as part of this project are part of 200+ public charging stations located statewide. Among the participants in the ceremony is e-ride Industries, a Princeton, Minn.-based manufacturer of electric utility vehicles used for facility operations and maintenance.

 

The planned locations of the charging sites in the project are:

Boom Island/BF Nelson Park                                      Minneapolis Parks & Recreation HQ

434 Main St. NE                                                                 2117 West River Rd.
Minneapolis, MN 55413                                                Minneapolis, MN 55411

 

Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary                                  Minnehaha Regional Park

East 4th Street                                                                  4825 Minnehaha Avenue South
Saint Paul, MN 55101                                                      Minneapolis, MN 55417

 

Upper Landing Park                                                        North Mississippi Regional Park

Shepard Road (in back of Sci. Museum)                       5114 North Mississippi Dr.
Saint Paul, 55102                                                              Minneapolis, MN 55413

                                               

Ft. Snelling State Park                                                   Northstar Parking Ramp
101 Snelling Lake Road                                                   7550 Sunwood Dr. NW
Saint Paul, MN 55111                                                      Ramsey, MN 55303

 

Historic Fort Snelling                                                     Science Museum of Minnesota

200 Tower Avenue                                                          120 Kellogg Boulevard
Saint Paul, MN 55111                                                      Saint Paul, MN 55102

 

Three Rivers Park District

(location to be determined)